Saturday snow forecast rises to 3-5 inches

The National Weather Service expects 2 to 4 inches of snow to fall Saturday… (www.erh.noaa.gov/phi,…)

December 28, 2012|By Tracy Jordan, Of The Morning Call

The Lehigh Valley and the Poconos can expect 3 to 5 inches of snow on Saturday, the National Weather Service said late this afternoon, adjusting an earlier forecast that saw just 2 to 4 inches.

Stormclouds from the southwest area expected to roll into the Valley about 6 a.m. The snow will continue until 10 p.m. in Allentown, and slightly later in points north and east.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mitchell Gaines says there is no expectation of freezing rain or severe wind gusts, which on Wednesday caused treacherous driving conditions as winds gusted up to 40 mph in Allentown and 70 mph at the New Jersey shore and caused ice to accumulate on area highways.

"What happened a couple days ago was there was more warmer air up above in the atmosphere that contributed to a lot of the sleet and freezing rain and ice accumulation," Gaines said Friday. "We don't' anticipate any of that this time around."

In fact, the storm is expected to be fairly consistent as far as accumulations and move quickly across Pennsylvania in a northeasterly direction.

Snow forecasts call for 3 to 5 inches in most parts of the region, unlike Wednesday when higher amounts of snow fell to the north leaving the Lehigh Valley with 1-2 inches of snow and the Poconos with as much as 6 inches in the higher elevations.

Just south of the Lehigh Valley, the Quakertown area will get 2 to 4 inches of snow, the weather service said. Philadelphia will see 1 to 2 inches.

The Valley's high temperature Saturday will be 31 degrees, with a nighttime low of 24.

Skies will clear gradually on Sunday, when the high will be 33 degrees. Under starry skies, Sunday night will chill to a 17-degree low.

Monday will be mostly sunny, with possible snow showers as the New Year comes in. Tuesday will be mostly cloudy.

Tonight, snow is expected to start falling in Central Pennsylvania, moving into the Lehigh Valley by daybreak.

"The steadiest snow will fall late morning to early afternoon," Gaines said.

Although the Lehigh Valley should not experience any rain, Gaines says that doesn't mean roads won't be slippery – especially secondary roads, untreated roads, bridges and overpasses. Temperatures, he said, will stay right around freezing in the upper 20s and low 30s.

The Poconos also will have an all snow event, but the Philadelphia region may see some rain due to slightly higher temperatures.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for the region from 6 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Saturday.